Bill takes bite out of police dog confinement (updated)

The state Senate today is set to pass legislation that would exempt police dogs from a 10-day confinement period after they bit someone.

The bill would allow a police department to seek a waiver if a police work dog bites an individual during the course of their duties. The waiver is predicated on the department providing an updated rabies vaccination record.

Updated: The bill passed 47-0.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. David Carlucci, D-Clarkstown, Rockland County, is one of three set to be approved today by the Senate. The bill doesn’t have an Assembly sponsor.

Current law requires animals who may have exposed an individual to rabies must be confined for a 10-day observation period, according to the bill.

But the bill argues that police dogs are a special breed.

“Police dogs, as part of their official duty, may have to subdue fleeing suspects and in this process may potentially bite an individual,” the bill says. “Police dogs, who are a vital cart of the police department, should not be detained for 10 days if the dog happens to bite an individual in the course of their official duty.”